Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/108

 "Indeed, I should hope not," was Grace's unsatisfactory reply.

Each bear costs at least one hundred dollars. You must buy a heavy sheepskin coat and felt boots, like those which the moujiks wear, besides the weapons necessary for killing and skinning the creature. Then you must employ two or three men to find a bear, and pay them for their time, which generally amounts to several days; and he must be watched while you are notified of his whereabouts. You take a railroad journey, hire a telega, and drive to the spot; and then if you do not shoot the bear in the eye, he gets away, and you lose him altogether, or one of your attendant moujiks kills him ingloriously for you.

It was late when the two gentlemen returned from their excursion. Tom began at once to relate his thrilling adventures and hairbreadth escapes, and it was some time before I had a chance to ask him where the bear was.

"The bear? Oh, yes! Well, do you know, Thurber shot the bear, and I never saw anything done better."

Whereupon Mr. Thurber became the hero of the hour, and poor Tom dwindled into insignificance. We are going to have bear-steaks for dinner, and the Englishman is to share them with us,—which reminds me that I must begin to dress.

Evening.

He came early, and found me alone in the library. Upon his inquiring why I was left in such solitude, I